Trams in Alexandria

The Alexandria tramway network serves the city of Alexandria in Egypt. It started running in 1863 and has 20 lines that cover 32 kilometers (20 miles) of track with 140 stops. This tram system is special because it uses double-deck cars, which means it has two levels for passengers. Only a few other places in the world have this kind of tram, like Blackpool in the UK and Hong Kong. The tracks are built to a standard size of 1,435 mm (4 feet 8 and a half inches), known as standard gauge.

History

The Alexandria tramway system began with a license issued on 16 August 1860, and its first line started running on 8 January 1863. The trams were electrified in 1902. Besides the Al Raml line, many tram lines travel through the streets of central and western Alexandria.

A small museum about the trams opened at Raml station in 2017.

Cultural Significance

The Alexandria tramway is more than just a way to get around the city. It is a symbol that many people in Alexandria and visitors love. The bright yellow and white, or blue and white cars are a big part of what makes Alexandria special. They often appear in local art and photos. For many people who live there, the tramway mixes memories of the past with daily life, and some even call it the "heart of Alexandria."

Fare

As of 2025, the cost of a tram ride in Alexandria depends on the type of tramcar. If the tram does not have curtains, the fare is £E2. If the tram has curtains, the fare is £E5. A special "Tram Café" started in 2015, but it was stopped the same year.

Fleet

Alexandria's tram system uses many different types of cars from several countries. Some of the cars come from Japan, Hungary, and Ukraine, while others were made in Egypt. There are also special work cars from Austria and Poland.

In the past, Alexandria used trams from Switzerland, Germany, Czechoslovakia, Canada, and the United States, but these are now retired or stored. Some of these old trams are kept as museum pieces.

Tram lines

The tram system in Alexandria has two parts.

Tram Al Ramlh

The Al Ramlh trams are blue and cream colored.

Route 1 stops at these places: Al Nasr (Victoria), Al Seyouf, Sidi Beshr, Al Saraya, Laurent Louran, Tharwat, San Stefano, Gianaclis, Schutz (Shods), Safar, Abou Shabana aka Baccos, Al Karnak, Al Wezara (The Ministry), Isis Bolkly (Bulkeley), Roushdy, Mohammed Mahfouz, Mustafa Kamil, Sidi Gaber Al Sheikh (Bus & Railway Station), Cleopatra Hammamat (Cleopatra Baths), Cleopatra Al Soghra, Al Reyada Al Kobra (Sporting Al Kobra), Al Reyada Al Soghra (Sporting Al Soghra), Al Ibrahimiyya, Al Moaskar (Camp Caesar), Al Gamaa (The University), Al Shatby, Al Shobban Al Moslemin, Al Shahid Moustafa Ziean, Hassan Rasim (Azarita), Gamea' Ibrahim (Mosque of Ibrahim), Mahattet Al Ramleh (Ramlh Station).

Route 2 stops at these places: Al Nasr (Victoria), Al Seyouf, Sidi Beshr, Al Saraya, Laurent Louran, Tharwat, San Stefano, Kasr Al Safa (Al Safa Palace) (Zizini), Al Fonoun Al Gamella (The Fine Arts), Ramsis (Glym or Gleem) (Glymenopoulo), Al Bostan (Saba Pasha), Al Hadaya, Isis Bolkly (Bulkeley), Roushdy, Mohammed Mahfouz, Mustafa Kamil, Sidi Gaber Al Mahata (train station), Cleopatra (Zananere), Al Reyada Al Kobra (Sporting Al Kobra), Al Reyada Al Soghra (Sporting Al Soghra), Al Ibrahimiyya, Al Moaskar (Camp Caesar), Al Gamaa (The University), Al Shatby, Al Shobban Al Moslemin, Al Shahid Moustafa Ziean, Hassan Rasim (Azarita), Gamea' Ibrahim (Mosque of Ibrahim), Mahattet Al Ramleh (Raml Station).

Route 25 (Red and Yellow Tram) uses both Tram Al Ramlh and Tram Al Medina tracks and stops at these places: Sidi Gaber Al Sheikh (Bus & Railway Station), Cleopatra Hammamat (Cleopatra Baths), Cleopatra Al Soghra, Al Reyada Al Kobra (Sporting Al Kobra), Al Reyada Al Soghra (Sporting Al Soghra), Al Ibrahimiyya, Al Moaskar (Camp Caesar), Al Gamaa (The University), Al Shatby, Al Shobban Al Moslemin, Al Shahid Moustafa Ziean, Hassan Rasim (Azarita), Gamea' Ibrahim (Mosque of Ibrahim), Mahattet Al Ramleh (Ramlh Station), Al Mahkama (The Courts), Al Matafi (Al Tahreer Square), Al Koweri, Al Kahwet Farouk, Abu Al Abbas (Mosque), Al Nokrashi, Al-Anfoushi (Citadel of Qaitbay), Kasr Al Thakafa, Al Haggary, Kahwet Annah, Maktabet Susan Mubarak, Ras Al Tin (Routes 6 and 21 terminate here).

Route 36 (Red and Yellow Tram) uses both Tram Al Ramlh and Tram El Medina tracks and stops at these places: San Stefano, Gianaclis, Schutz (Shods), Safar, Abou Shabana aka Baccos, Al Karnak, Al Wezara (The Ministry), Isis Bolkly (Bulkeley), Roushdy, Mohammed Mahfouz, Mustafa Kamil, Sidi Gaber Al Mahata, Cleopatra (Zananere), Al Reyada Al Kobra (Sporting Al Kobra), Al Reyada Al Soghra (Sporting Al Soghra), Al Ibrahimiyya, Al Moaskar (Camp Caesar), Al Gamaa (The University), Al Shatby, Al Shobban Al Moslemin, Al Shahid Moustafa Ziean, Hassan Rasim (Azarita), Gamea' Ibrahim (Mosque of Ibrahim), Mahattet Al Ramleh (Ramlh Station), Al Mahkama (The Courts), Al Matafi (Al Tahreer Square), Al Koweri, Al Kahwet Farouk, Abu Al Abbas (Mosque), Al Nokrashi, Al Anfoushi (Citadel of Qaitbay), Kasr Al Thakafa, Al Haggary, Kahwet Annah, Maktabet Susan Mubarak, Ras Al Tin (Routes 6 and 21 terminate here).

Tram Al Madina

This tram is usually yellow, but routes 25 and 36 are red and yellow.

There are 16 routes here:

1. Nozha - El Khedewi- Metras.
2. Noxha - El Shohadaa - Karmouz.
3. Metras - El Sabaa Banat - St Cathrine.
4. Moharam Bek - Abi El Dardaa - St Cathrine Square.
5. Moharam Bek - El Khedewi - El Gomork - Ras El Tin.
6. Nozha - El Khedewi - El Max - El Wardian.
7. El Shohadaa - El Khedewi - Metras - El Max.
8. Nozha - El Shohadaa - El Shbaa Banat.
9. Nozha - Moharam Bek - El Shohadaa.
10. Ramlh - El Sayed Karaiem - Ras El Tin.
11. Karmouz - Abi El Dardaa - St Cathrine Square. (Serapeum & Pompey's Pillar)
12. Nozha - Abi El Dardaa - St Cathrine Square.
13. El Shohadaa - El Khedewi - Metras - El Max.
14. Metras - Bab El Karasta - Gomrok - Ras El Tin.
15. Sidi Gaber - El Matafi. (Bus & Railway Station)
16. Ras El Tin - San Stefano.